Q&A with Ben Ottewell
As the former singer and guitarist of English band Gomez, Ben Ottewell has been carving a solid solo career for himself over the past few years. Ottewell kicks off his Australian tour here in Darwin, before heading out across the country. Off The Leash spoke with the musician ahead of his show at the Darwin Railway Club.
Interview with Chelsea Heaney.
What are looking forward to in coming back to Australia for your third solo tour?
Just being back in the country – it’s been 18 months and 2016 was the first year I've not toured Australia since 1999. I've missed the place, the cities, the great food and wine, the people. It’s not a bad place to tour.
You’ve just released your third album. What was this recording process like?
I started recording in Los Angeles last summer. I know a bunch of great players and engineers and it’s where I recorded both of my previous solo records. I've developed a great relationship with Will Golden, who engineered and tracked most of the bass and drums there with drummer Michael Jerome. I finished the record at MU Studios Sheffield with producer Martin Smith and had John Smith, who is a great guitar player, come and record some tracks. Basically my modus operandi is to surround myself with people who are better than me. Sheffield is a great city and a great music town. I lived there for a while and met Ian Ball from Gomez there – I have deep connections with the place.
Does this new release differ from your previous albums Shapes & Shadows and Rattlebag?
Shapes & Shadows is a very acoustic record and Rattlebag is perhaps a little heavier, a more blues based album. A Man Apart kind of combines the two – it is a little more dynamic in its range while still a continuation of my deep love of Americana. Even after 20 years I'm still learning my craft and this record reflects where I am now.
What have you been up to since the release of your last album in 2014?
Touring, lots of touring. I also wrote and recorded a song for a video game called ‘Blackwood Crossing’, which was released earlier this year.
How has it been working on your solo material, rather than as a part of Gomez, over the past few years?
It’s very different, although quite normal for me now. It’s been three years since Gomez played together and even longer since we were in the studio together. It’s great to have full control, although there’s no safety net of having the other guys around live and in the studio. Song writing is now a little more personal, less ambiguous. I think there was definitely an unconscious feeling that I was writing for the band when with Gomez, writing to represent us all.
